Hearts United – Chapter 10

by: Rebecca Taylor

Sienna switched shoes and then climbed out of her car. She had decided to accept a date for the evening. She was really nervous because she had never met Ben Bates before but his letter had sounded interesting and she liked the way his voice had sounded on the phone. He wasn’t Todd Brody she told herself but what if he was a way of making her meet someone else, a way of being forced to meet other people, like he was the driving force behind her need for a proper relationship. Sienna walked into the restaurant, clutching tightly to her shoulder bag. She knew exactly where her mobile telephone was should she need to call for help. There were also plenty of people in the restaurant should she run into a problem. She knew that the chances were higher that Ben Bates was an upstanding guy but from some of the letters she had read, she knew there were some men who just wanted to meet what they described as an ‘oddity.’ There were other men who wanted to be the ones to make her forget that Todd Brody had ever existed to her and some like Ben Bates, who sounded like they were just looking for a simple relationship and thought maybe they’d have a shot with her. Sienna spoke to the waitress who was seating restaurant guests and she walked her over to a table where a young man was already sitting. He got up and pulled out a chair for her.

“I feel honoured that you chose to go out with me,” said Ben, “after all of the offers that you have likely received for dates.”

“I have received a lot of mail,” said Sienna, “I haven’t even read all of it yet.”

“So, if I may ask,” said Ben, “what prompted you to choose me?”

“I liked the letter that you wrote me. It was kind and respectful and you sounded interesting, and then when we spoke on the phone, it cemented my decision to take a chance and go out with someone who wasn’t Todd.”

“You really think he’s out there somewhere?” asked Ben.

“I do,” said Sienna, “and it’s a feeling that I haven’t been able to shake. This whole experience with going public with how I’m feeling and that I’m looking for him is something that I wouldn’t normally have considered but the feelings I’ve experienced for him are so strong that I have to know, if there is any way.”

“Love can be a strange emotion can’t it,” said Ben.

“I agree,” said Sienna, “and when I decided to come out tonight, I decided that I was willing to take a chance and see what happens.”

“To see if some of the qualities that you saw in Todd in your dreams, might be in a man closer to home?” replied Ben.

“Something like that,” said Sienna, “so tell me about yourself. I got a glimpse in your letter and on the phone, but I’d like to hear more.”

“Alright,” said Ben, “well, I’m an architect. I’ve worked on numerous projects but my favorites to design are log cabins. I have some pictures on my phone if you’d like to see them.”

“I’d like that,” replied Sienna.

They chatted easily discussing their careers and their hobbies, until it was getting late and time for them to leave.”

“Can I see you again?” asked Ben.

“I’d like that,’ said Sienna.

“I’ll call you,” said Ben as they walked out of the restaurant together.

As Sienna walked back to her car, she wondered who would fill her dreams that night – Ben Bates or Todd Brody.

As Sienna walked back to her car, she wondered who would fill her dreams that night – Ben Bates or Todd Brody.